Brian took a deep breath of the breeze passing through the garden. Smiling, he tilted his head back and looked up at the sky covered in white clouds.
"Have you ever had competing companies try to buy your business?"
"Nope. And even if they did, I wouldn't sell." Adeline shook her head. "A lot of companies would want me if they knew what I could do. But I like management and investing more. Mm... saving money doesn't create profit. If I've got money sitting in my pocket, I'd rather invest it so it can keep growing. Just like planting these flowers."
She pointed at the tulip bushes as an example.
"A valuable lesson from Miss Adelina... oops, Adeline."
He teased her while slipping both hands into his pockets.
"Adelina?" Adeline's eyes brightened. "I like that name! It sounds so elegant."
"Heh, I don't know. Sometimes I wish my name was Elvis, Bronze, or Matthews. They sound cooler than Brian, honestly."
"Elvis? Rock and roll! Ta-da!" Adeline laughed. "It actually suits you. Come to think of it..."
The two looked at each other and fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter together.
"Haha, what is this? We've barely known each other, and it already feels like we're friends," Brian wondered aloud as he wandered through the flower garden.
"I've never made tea for a guest before. Would you like to try some?" Adeline asked, not quite knowing what else to say.
"Maybe next time. My tongue's still recovering. After that champagne the other day, it felt like I swallowed my own tongue." He giggled.
"You're funny, Bryce." Adeline turned her back to him. "Oops, Brian."
"Yeah, Bryce's fine; can tell you like funny people." He laughed. "Just kidding."
Hearing that, Adeline smiled so hard her cheeks nearly turned red as apples. She wasn't used to people being so direct with her.
"How many rooms are in that mansion anyway? Let me guess... at least five bathrooms?" Brian scratched his chin, clearly curious about the place.
"I hope you're not afraid of ghosts. The mansion has six bedrooms, and when I've got nothing to do, I wander from room to room sometimes. It reminds me of the old days."
"You could probably turn it into a hotel."
Brian teased her lightly.
"Did you know that knowing seven people is practically the same as knowing the whole world?" Adeline said as she headed back toward the mansion.
Brian followed alongside her, chatting as casually as if they'd been friends for years.
"Oh, because every person's relationships branch out like a tree, right?"
"Exactly~" Adeline replied. "And since you're following me... I'm guessing you want to see the inside of my house?"
She tilted her head toward him.
"Up to ya." Hearing that, Adeline led Brian up the stairs to the second floor. A massive floating chandelier hung above the staircase.
There were six bedrooms along the long hallway, three bathrooms, and rooftop balconies on both sides. Through the windows, Brian could enjoy a clear view of Phoenix stretching into the distance. There was even a small gym tucked into a corner beside a glass wall.
She brought him to her old bedroom.
The room was decorated in an old Victorian style. Gears rotated in circles along the left wall, and a miniature steam train traveled back and forth across her writing desk.
Brian turned and noticed a family photograph.
"So that's your family, huh?"
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
The sound of moving machinery came from somewhere behind him.
Brian spun around immediately.
"Wah—! A spider!!"
A clockwork spider dangled upside down from his shirt.
Brian flailed wildly, swatting at it until the spider flew across the room and slammed into a vanity table.
"It's hard as a rock. Wait a second—?!"
He stared in confusion at whatever he had just hit.
"Hans! Good grief, I hope you didn't break him."
Adeline hurried over to the vanity.
"Hans? What do you mean? That thing's a spider!"
Brian pointed at the creature.
"Look closer, Brian."
The spider rose onto all eight legs.
Its body was made entirely from the mechanisms of a golden watch. A soft orange light glowed from its abdomen.
Then it suddenly launched itself at Brian.
"Shit! Whoa~~~~!"
"Hans, over here!"
Adeline called out.
The mechanical spider instantly changed direction and sprinted toward her instead. It leapt onto her white glove and wrapped all eight legs around her right wrist.
Moments later, it folded itself neatly into the shape of a gleaming golden wristwatch.
"This one's named Hans. I built him myself. What do you think?"
"Whoa! That's amazing. Hansobro" Brian stared at the clockwork spider watch in disbelief. "Wait... can it fight too?"
"Well, technically there are needle pins attached to the tips of its legs, so you do need to be careful." Adeline smiled. "If I hadn't called it back just now, you probably would've felt something like getting a med shot."
She paused.
"The little troublemaker always aims for people's butt cheeks, too."
Brian swallowed hard. "Yikes." Then he glanced at Hans again.
"No wonder so many companies headhuntin' you as a chief engy."